How Yoga Helps You Show Up For Yourself

There’s so much that you can learn from Yoga. Practice, self-discipline, and more about who you are as a person.

But most of all, it teaches you to love yourself for who you really are… Not who others tell you that you should be.

Check out the different ways that Yoga can help you show up for yourself below.

Have you ever found it hard to take positive and kind action on your own behalf?

Me, too.

In fact, I’m pretty sure I was President of that club for about, oh, a couple decades.

Knock, Knock

Of course, it’s hard to practice self-care when you don’t know what’s going on with your body. It’s funny how that works, isn’t it?

I spent so many years living in my head, that looking back I just don’t think I was capable of treating myself well and doing things that would make me feel good — sleeping enough, moving my body in ways that felt good, figuring out what my migraine triggers were, knowing what my boundaries were, etc.

I mean, how could I have? In order to do any of those things, you first have to know how you feel in the moment.

And I pretty much never knew that.

Who’s There?

It was only after I’d been practicing yoga for a while that I started to live more in my body — not all the time, or even most of the time, but more than I had been.

As I began to identify what was happening in my body on the mat, I began to take back my ability to do it off the mat, too.

I say take back because I think we all have the ability to do this deep down. Many of us disconnect from or lose that ability, though — due to any number of issues. It’s not that we lost it completely or never had it, but that we have to forge a new relationship with it.

That’s what I feel has happened for me, and is continuing to unfold the longer I practice. I’m taking back my ability to act on my own behalf, my bodily agency.

Empowered

I usually hate quoting the dictionary, but in this case I think it’s relevant. In it, empower means “to give power to” and “to promote the self-actualization of.” Sounds pretty fitting to me.

For people who have become disconnected from their bodily power for any reason (AKA 99.99% of us), yoga can be a way home.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Reconnecting with your body after not feeling or listening to it can be difficult at best — feeling things you might have been avoiding, remembering things you might have hoped to forget, mourning the time you spent seemingly apart. All of that is stored in our body on a deep level, so the more we move it and know it, the more things come to the surface.

What I’ve found, though, is that feeling it all — the good, the bad and everything in between — is better than the alternative that I lived for such a long time.

Showing Up For Me

Yoga that points people back to themselves as the experts on their own experience is what helps people reestablish this connect and empower themselves. Because while someone else might be able to help you open the door of empowerment, it’s ultimately an inside job.

No one else empowers you. You empower yourself.

And as that inner empowerment unfolds, you step into your agency and can begin to take compassionate action on your own behalf.

Yoga in action. You in action.

Read The Original Article Here

Are you ready to be there for yourself?

Are you ready to be a powerful, conscious, and loving soul?

Take action today and keep up with your Yoga practice.

To stay up-to-date with what Bizzy Yogi is doing and how you can be apart of it, like our Facebook page.

If you want to join a community of Yogis that come together to motivate, inspire, and life each other up… Then join my Facebook Group: Yogi Hearts, Business Minds where I give exclusive advice on Yoga Biz, Yoga Life, and Yoga Practice.

5 Lessons I Learned On A One-Day Retreat

Sometimes you don’t have the ability to leave for a whole week. Maybe all you have is 2-3 days, and that includes your travel time.

Don’t knock the ability to take a one-day retreat if that’s the case.

There’s so much that can be done in just a day and you’ll be amazed at just how much more rested and relaxed you feel when you come back home.

Check out these 5 lessons learned from a one-day retreat:

Sure, a week-long yoga retreat is what you really want. But if you think you won’t get a lot out of a one-day getaway, think again.

As a mom of three and full-time midwife, I feel like I am constantly treading water—barely able to keep my head above surface level as I juggle carpools, after-school activities, two 24-hour shifts at a busy Philadelphia hospital, finding time to connect with my husband, friends, and family, and more. And, while I manage on most days to wake up at 5 a.m. to squeeze in a yoga practice, run, or spin class before the rest of my house wakes up, the time I carve out for myself is limited, at best.

Which is why I’ve been longing to go on a yoga retreat for a while now, and find myself daydreaming about a solid week of meditation and asana practice each morning, mid-afternoon naps in a hammock, and nights spent luxuriating over organic greens and inspiring dinner-table conversations. (No 3-year-old, sweet-potato slinging to contend with! Dreamy!)

Yet while it was clear to me that I needed some kind of getaway that involved more than an early morning sweat session or guzzling coffee with my mom friends, leaving family- and work-life behind just wasn’t in the cards. Which is why the Rise Gatherings Day of Renewal Retreat, a one-day event designed specifically to nourish and empower women, intrigued me. I could swing a one-day getaway—but would it make that much of an impact? Turns out the answer is a resounding yes. Here’s what this day-long retreat taught me—and how it’s reconnected me with the true purpose of my yoga practice at this point in my life.

Lesson No. 1: There’s serious power in surrounding yourself with like-minded women.

When we sat in an opening introductory circle and I explained the “doozy of a year” I had just experienced, and shared that I was looking to get back on some sort of a path, I felt vulnerable—but also comforted by all of the sighs of recognition and nodding heads. And when a woman in her 60s who sat across the circle from me talked about all of the times she had re-invented herself throughout her life, I thought “Brilliant! If she can do that, maybe I can, too!” There was a warmth, and an instant vibe where I felt safe and understood—and that feeling only grew throughout the day.

Lesson No. 2: Just one day of relaxation can be invigorating.

I am all about efficiency. Much of it is my Type A personality, but the demands of my life with three littles and a full-time job also keep me on a tight schedule. So, whether it’s my girls’ bath time or my own exercise time, I tend to stick rather tightly to my routines. Which is why I was surprised how amazingly liberating it felt to do so many different things for a day: an hour of Kettlebell Kundalini (which kicked my butt as it linked breath, strength, and movement); a “forest bath,” where we took a meditative hike in the woods; and even Breath Yoga, where I had to challenge myself to slow down and sink into a softness my go-to vigorous Vinyasa practice doesn’t always include.

Lesson No. 3: Introverts don’t always need a solo getaway to feel rejuvenated.

I’m an introvert, through and through. While I do seek out social experiences with others, my cup tends to be re-filled most fully by solo, quiet time. Which is why I was somewhat shocked at how being with 20 strangers for eight straight hours didn’t leave me feeling drained. But, the retreat’s two facilitators made sure to keep both the introverts and extroverts happy.

Lesson No. 4: Food can be fun.

I consider myself a health-conscious person. I read the latest studies about what we “should” and “shouldn’t” be eating, and I often put this information into practice. I also try to nourish my family in positive ways. But even with these best of intentions, mealtimes often end up feeling like a chaotic battleground. In short, somewhere in my adulthood, food stopped being fun for me.

But, something at the Rise retreat shifted as I witnessed the other women eagerly standing around the beautifully-presented, plant-based meal that was prepared for us.

Lesson No. 5: That advice to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others is cliché for good reason.

Yes, we all know how important self-care is for our sanity. And there’s also a reason we need to be reminded of this—often! What I’ve come to realize is that the root of what has thrown me off my game this year is that I’ve been putting my own needs on the back-burner for so long that, at times, I don’t even know what they are any more. And that needs to change.

At the end of this one-day retreat, we were each invited to pick a card from a big pile around our yoga mats. No two cards were the same. I chose my card and kept it face-down as I sat comfortably on my mat. When I turned it over, I silently read: “Nourish: One day she woke up and she understood she must nourish herself first … and then she could nourish others.”

There it was—the exact reminder I needed.

Read The FULL article Here

If your time is limited and you can’t do a full retreat, maybe a one-day retreat is just what you need.

If I can get enough people to go for a one-day retreat, I’ll consider planning one. Email me at hello@bizzyyogi.com to let me know that you’re interested. I read and reply to ALL of my emails. I promise.

How I Made The Body Image Shift

Some of the mos beautiful women I know suffer from low self-esteem and poor body image.

While I’d love to blame it all on social constructs and the entertainment industry (this includes the media), it’s not all their fault. We have to take some of the responsibility for what we allow ourselves to believe about beauty and our bodies.

The only reason that they get away with [falsely] portraying beauty and perfection the way they do is because we allow them to.

You are beautiful. Your body is perfect. You don’t have to look like the models on TV or wear a size 2 to be beautiful or to love your body.

If you want to make the shift to a better body image and self-esteem, read the article below. It lays out some great points.

A friend recently asked me how I made the shift towards a more positive body image.

And I froze.

Despite writing about this often and thinking about it even more, an answer didn’t easily spring to mind. I think that’s because it’s a monolithic question in a lot of ways, and I’ve done SO many different things that it’s hard to narrow it down.

Drilling Down

After shaking off my initial brain freeze, I did the next best thing I could think of: spout off some platitudes — therapy, journaling, blah, blah, blah.

Now, those things aren’t blah blah to me — not at all. They’re actually two of my most important tools that I use on a regular basis. But they were blah blah to her at the time because I knew she’d heard it all before, and she was struggling. She wanted to hear something different, and I knew I wasn’t being as real as I wanted to be.

One More Layer

There were a few other friends in the room, so the conversation continued for a bit without me. I listened to them with one ear and to me with the other — asking myself, “what has REALLY made a difference to me?”

And then it hit me.

As soon as I could, I jumped back into the conversation and told my friend, “One of the biggest things I did was completely change my environment.”

That got her attention.

Creating My Life

From there, I went into further detail. I let go of toxic friendships — the ones that drained me of energy because they were all one-sided. But also the ones where all we talked about was how much we hated our bodies and needed to go on a diet.

Now, I didn’t just call up these people and break-up with them in one day; my process wasn’t that quick. But over time, as I saw our relationship more deeply (or, rather, saw its lack of depth), I had less desire to spend time with these people. And we gradually drifted apart — no passive aggressive melodrama necessary.

I also dramatically reduced the amount of media I consume. I used to love subscribing to magazines, but over time I realized that 90% of them were ads designed to make me feel terrible. Even the pages that weren’t actual ads were ads because they were just clever layouts of “best new facial creams” or whatever.

After that, I slowly stopped reading so much news and, eventually, I stopped my old way of watching TV. Now I never flip through the channels and accidentally land on a telemercial for the latest weight loss scheme. Instead, I’m all about Hulu — watching only what I want, when I want.

Finally, I changed my home. I got rid of all the clothes I was hanging onto for the hopes of fitting into one day. I couldn’t believe the shift that created for me energetically. I quite literally felt freer after unburdening myself of the expectations infused in those clothes.

I also hid my scale from myself. Of course, I knew it was still there, but more often than not I didn’t think about it when it wasn’t the first thing I saw every morning. And, again, over time, as I fell out of the routine of weighing myself 2-3x/week, I missed it less and less.

The Myth of Giving Up

As I read through this list, my inner critic thinks — “You didn’t change your environment. You gave up!”

And, my, isn’t that a pervasive myth? We even have jokes about it — how people get older, married, in a busy job, have kids or whatever (it really doesn’t matter the reason, does it?) — and they “give up.” In this scenario, giving up is meant to mean on the way they look.

What a sad social construct.

First of all, I think this is ridiculous, offensive and designed solely to support the diet and beauty industries. Second, you know what looks better on people than a smaller pair of pants?

Not hating themselves.

Truly, don’t we all know those people whose bodies don’t fit the standard beauty norms but who everyone thinks is radiant and gorgeous? I know I do. And it’s not because of their clothes or makeup.

It’s because they have a light within, and they shine it out with confidence.

Change your environment, change your life

I know it can sound like a lot, perhaps even too much, to change your environment. And I can hear the reasons as to why you could never cut that person out of your life. And that’s probably true; it is for me.

I still have people in my life who aren’t 100% supportive of my body lovin’ journey who I choose not to cut out (primarily because they’re family members). So what I do with them is shift the conversation as much as possible, including not participating in fat-talk during family gatherings, which is always a favorite activity.

You’ll also notice that with everything I did, I said “over time” or “slowly.” This didn’t happen overnight — not by a long shot. So if there are things you might like to change in your life, figure out your own pace and method.
And start making the shift.
Click Here To Read This Amazing Article On Curvy Yoga

Follow Them Here

Put these principles into practice today. I promise, it’s totally worth it. Instead of focusing on the way you look, focus on your health. When your perspective shifts from how you look to how your body feels, happiness and joy can then be unleashed.

If you want to join a community of Yogis who are strong, uplifting, and supportive… Join my Facebook Group Yogi Hearts, Business Minds.

Not only will you find a tribe of amazing Yogis that are there for you, but it’s where I give exclusive advice on Yoga Biz, Yoga Life, and Yoga Practice.

Yogi Q&A: Is Yoga A Trend?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOmOPkaXz7M&t=5s” el_width=”80″ align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hello and welcome to Bizzy Yogi!

One of the things that I like to do is take time out every week to answer any questions you may have. One question that I seem to be getting frequently is about the Yoga trend. Is Yoga a trend?

There seems to be a concern with the rising popularity of Yoga, not so much on the popularity as much as does this water down the Yogic principles that guide a Yogi’s life?

Here’s my take on the “Yoga Trend”:

Is yoga a trend? Is yoga becoming “popular”? This is the next question for today.

If you want my opinion, yes. Is that a bad thing? No.

So, yoga is becoming a trend. It’s moving into gyms. This is awesome. Like, awesome. I want yoga everywhere. Why? Because yoga has power. Yoga is union. Yoga moves things inside of you through breath, through intention, and through the physical postures. We’re moving energy in the body to sustain energy.

Now, let’s backtrack a little bit. Yoga in its own, is what? Five, six, seven thousand years old? That’s a long time. Fast forward to English colonization. British, Hindu, completely different. So what happens when people get colonized? New changes are brought upon them, perhaps violence. As we know, Gandhi was trying to stop this violence and stop the shifts in the Hindu culture by the British.

So let’s think. Do you think the British might have influenced yoga? Yes. How did they do this? First of all, the Hindu yogis had to disguise their practices. Because they were religious, they were polytheistic, so they were pagans. They had to disguise their practices. So they started adopting basically gymnastics and aerobic exercises from the British, from the Swedes, I believe it’s Scandinavian – gymnastics, and started adding these into their routines, their asana.

What’s really interesting is that it stayed. Think about the ashtanga yoga system and all these other more modern forms of yoga. We kept a lot of these gymnastics aerobics exercises from the British, from the Europeans. And now it’s turned into a very asana-based practice. I mean, I’m an acro-yogi. I was in the first acro-yoga training ever. So do you think that when I started teaching, people came and questioned me, and said, “This isn’t yoga”? Well, of course it’s not. It’s acrobatics. But also has yoga in it. We have asana sequences.

I’m so happy that this question was asked, because it brings up a lot of emotion. And I also want to know what you guys think. How did you step on your mat for the first time? Where was it? Where were you exposed to yoga? And what happened? So comment below. And if you think that yoga is a fad, then give it a thumbs up. If you think that yoga is moving and transforming and shifting, then give it a thumbs up. Because everything in life changes. Just as when the British colonized India, and changed the way asana was being delivered, nowadays, yoga keeps changing, and it’s moving into tons of different places.

But as we know, yoga starts doing something inside of you. It starts making you want to let go of things that aren’t good for you. It starts making you feel more peaceful. Maybe more observant. So how and why yoga is turning into a fad and moving into gyms, it’s because it’s liked by people. So let’s keep liking the yoga. Let’s keep sharing it. And if you did step into yoga in a gym, and you fell in love with it, amazing. One of my teachers found her yoga in the gym 20 years ago. And now, she is a senior Iyengar teacher. So please, stay true to your practice.

Fall in love with yoga, no matter where it is. And investigate. See what other practices you like. There’s meditation, there’s pranayama. So we’re not just stuck in asana world anymore, we want to discover Ayurveda, the science of life, the science of health. There’s so many benefits that come from yoga. And it’s up to us as teachers and you as students to find out more and be able to deliver authentic teachings.

If it has a modern twists because it connects with more people, then thumbs up. If you have a question about anything Yoga, just ask it below! There’s tons of great stuff that we’re putting together. Stay connected with me. And if you’re looking to really get a little bit deeper, join me in one of my live events. We have retreats, trainings, all sorts of fun stuff. If you founf this helpful and you really liked it, share it with a friend if you feel like this is a great topic that they’d enjoy.

Connect with me on Facebook!

Connect with other Yogis in our Facebook Group![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_wp_text][wufoo username=”socialbizflow” formhash=”q1u59hhp0lfv2x4″ autoresize=”true” height=”446″ header=”show” ssl=”true”][/vc_wp_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Curve-Friendly Yoga Classes

In response to a few questions I’ve received about doing Yoga when you have curves, I’m sharing this with you.

You can 100% do Yoga no matter what body shape you have. Don’t be ashamed, your body is beautiful and so are you!

If you’re curvy and looking to do some Yoga, then make sure you read the whole thing. This is about finding a curve-friendly yoga class.

Our Friends at Curvy Yoga have some awesome insight on ladies who want to do yoga but are curvy.

Begin Researching
With your need list in hand, you can begin researching. Of course, Google is a helpful friend for this task. Spend some time searching things like “yoga” and the name of your town. Scan the websites and read reviews, but hold it all lightly enough for your gut instinct to emerge. Just because a teacher is beloved by some people doesn’t mean she’s right for you. And vice versa, just because some people don’t like a particular teacher doesn’t mean you won’t.

Key Words
While the number of curvy friendly yoga teachers continues to grow, there is still a dearth of us in most areas. So instead of looking for a Curve-Friendly Yoga class, here are some other possible key words to look for if you are new to yoga: yoga for every body, gentle, accessible, welcoming, hatha, slow flow, beginners, etc. If you prefer a faster-paced class, you’re likely to find words like vinyasa or flow. Any paced class can be a good fit for a curvy practitioner, depending on the needs list you determined earlier (although if you’re brand new I usually recommend a slower pace at first just so you can get a hang of the poses and have more opportunities to ask questions).

Talk with Friends
Odds are fairly good that you know someone who practices yoga — even if indirectly. Word of mouth is a great way to find a yoga teacher. So begin asking around for recommendations. Again, just because someone comes recommended doesn’t mean you’ll connect with them (because the person you ask may have a really different need list than you). But a review from someone you trust is often more relevant than one you find online. In addition, you can ask them questions about the style of the teacher and class to get a better sense of what might be a good fit for you.

Connect with Teachers
I encourage you to gather a list of at least 3 potential teachers whose classes you’d like to try. Once you have their name and contact info, connect with them by phone or email. I love hearing from new students before they come to class; it is a great way to get to know them better and assuage any potential fears. So when you get in touch, be sure to let them know any questions/concerns you have. Here are a few you might consider (feel free to just copy/paste these into your email if you’d like):

What props are available in your class, and when/how do you incorporate them? (If a teacher uses props in her class, it gives me a clue that she is at least somewhat knowledgeable about adapting poses to her students’ needs.)
Should I be prepared to come up with my own modifications in class, or do you offer some? (This gives the teacher a clue that you will want/need modifications and will also give you a chance to hear more about the teacher’s thoughts on it.)
What is your experience teaching curvy-bodied students? (It’s useful to hear that a teacher has taught curvy-bodied students in the past. If they say they don’t have much experience but do have experience modifying poses for a number of different injuries, abilities, ages, etc. then that is a good sign that they can help you come up with creative solutions. Although experience with curvy bodies is obviously ideal, I think the most important thing is that the teacher has a spirit of willingness to help you find what works for you in a non-judgmental atmosphere).

Tips:

Do a Gut Check, see how you feel in the class, be honest with yourself
Snag a Buddy, go with someone else and make it fun

You can learn more here.

I hope this has answered any questions you might have a laid to rest that ugly stereotyped myth: Yoga isn’t for girls with curves.

Yoga is for everyone, so find a spot that works for you and enjoy! You won’t be the best in the room right away, but as you continue, you’ll notice that your flexibility and even the shape of your muscles will start changing.

If you have any Yoga questions, feel free to ask at www.BizzyYogi.com/Questions

I’ll answer any Yoga Biz, Yoga Life, or Yoga Practice questions that you may have.

Yogi Q&A: Prana & Yoga Practice Technique

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEkATN0_Lmk” el_width=”80″ align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hi, Yogi Lovers

I wanted to answer two questions that came from my viewers.

One is, how do we detach prana from the body?

Well, prana is energy, and energy cannot be created or destroyed, unless we hit death, when the energy leaves the body. I would say that to make this question a little bit more tangible, maybe how do we manipulate prana, and that comes through:

Breathing exercises
Yoga
Being in nature
Eating the right foods
Being with the right people

Yeah… That’s it!

Then, another of you awesome yoga lovers asked a common question.

“My feet get numb sometimes in my yoga practice.”

Well, I would say it’s either a circulation or a compression issue. Maybe the ankle’s dropping in. I would need to look at it, but maybe try to put a block in between your thighs that way there’s engagement somewhere else, which could alleviate some of that pressure being created.

I hope that helps.

Please keep following me. Keep asking questions.

Thank you!

Check out my last Yogi Q&A with Ari on “How to become a better Yoga teacher without having teaching opportunities.”

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][wufoo username=”socialbizflow” formhash=”q1u59hhp0lfv2x4″ autoresize=”true” height=”446″ header=”show” ssl=”true”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Yogi Q&A: How To Become A Better Yoga Teacher Without Studio Opportunities

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZNa8_Gnluc&t=27s” el_width=”80″ align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Namaste!

As part of Bizzy Yogi, I want to offer time to answer any questions my peers or fellow yogis have. It’s part of my serving.

So today’s question comes from Pat.

She asks, “How do we become better teachers if we don’t have opportunities?” One of her classes was recently let go from the studio, so Pat, this is for you.

First of all, that is something that happens to all of us. It’s happened to me a million times, where maybe your class was going okay, but for some strange reason, they decided to shift the teacher or change the time slot.

First thing is ask the studio what you could’ve done better, and maybe what was some of the feedback from the students?

Number two is open up your possibilities. You have a very niche practice. You have chair yoga, slow flow, and family yoga, so not everybody can teach that. Maybe reach out to YMCAs, to different centers, maybe community centers.

Where there’s older people that might need the chair yoga, or people that can’t do yoga on a yoga mat, maybe disabled, maybe vets. There’s always opportunities to offer your teachings, your practice, and you have to open up the possibilities of not just teaching at a studio.

I hope that answers your question, and for you who are watching, please ask away. Send questions. Join my Facebook group, Yogi Hearts, Business Minds, where I go on there live, and we’ll be able to create some of these answers once a week, live on the group.

We’ll be posting that very soon. Then you can ask literally right then on the spot.

I’m super excited to share this with you, so please leave comments, answer questions below, and I’ll see you in the next one.

Thank you.

If you’re currently a Yoga teacher, check out my blog on “Why I Quit Being A Yoga Teacher”.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][wufoo username=”socialbizflow” formhash=”q1u59hhp0lfv2x4″ autoresize=”true” height=”446″ header=”show” ssl=”true”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Inside Scoop On Yoga Retreats

I spend a lot of time on retreats. Whether I’m hosting one of my own or I’m helping other Yogis plan their retreats, it is something that takes up a good amount of space in my brain.

I’ve spent over 10 years perfecting the formula for creating an amazing retreat that will not only benefit the one who’s hosting it, but also the Yogis that are going to attend it.

This blog isn’t about me today. I’m sharing an objective article from a writer that I don’t personally know that’s giving you the inside scoop on Yoga retreats.

Check it out:

The following is an unbiased article by Lisa Sands

I never thought I would be the “type of person” who would go on a yoga retreat. I thought that sort of thing was for people with way too much time on their hands, people with lots of money to spare, or lots of problems to run from.

But, there I was in the tropical heat of Bali with 20 other women, getting up at 6 a.m. for sunrise yoga, tapping into my goddess nature, wearing sarongs, going without makeup. Thinking. Not thinking. Praying. Listening. Questioning. Thanking. Hating myself. Loving myself. Loving myself some more like it was my job.

How I arrived at the decision to go is not nearly as interesting or important as the experience itself, or the way it changed me afterward. What I did not realize when I put down my deposit, almost a full year before, is how much I would need it when the time came, and how it would fill a void in my life I could not have predicted.

Twenty people, mostly strangers, meeting halfway around the world to practice yoga…is fantastic and special and, yeah, a little uncertain and uncomfortable. And you are the perfect person to go, just as you are, complete with your baggage, sadness, questions and fears.

Everyone is there for a different reason—most come for spiritual growth, reflection, or healing. Some come to deepen their physical practice. Me? I was there for the adventure—I craved a life shake up.

I was feeling aimless and unsettled. I wanted to be somewhere that looked and felt so different than home. I wanted to see if I missed my life and the people I loved. I wanted to get to know me again. For reasons I can’t really explain, I sensed that I needed to be far away from the familiar so that I could stake a claim for my future self.

I came back home with eyes wide open to the beauty of other another culture. I was more confident, at ease, and tolerant of myself and of others. I looked fear in the eye and left it in the dust. I bonded with other strong, capable women and learned that they, like me, had their own unique, painful, and beautiful journeys and things to confront and reconcile.

I learned from them and they are part of me.

So if a little voice is whispering to you and you have an unexplained stirring for something you can’t name, you may be wondering what it is you really need.

If you need to break free from expectations, to shout out and wildly proclaim your truth, or if you need to get really quiet and inside yourself, and let a big ugly cry happen, then yeah, a yoga retreat is for you.

Don’t wait. Do it. You’re worth it.

Original Article here

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25 Benefits of Going on a Yoga Retreat

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I’d like to share with you guys a little information I found when I was doing research for the Your Yogi Life Costa Rica Retreat.

I was looking up some stats for retreats vs planning your own vacations and came across this AWESOME article from the WeTravel blog.

BECAUSE it was so useful and full of information, I want to share it with you! Check it out.

25 Benefits Of Going On A Yoga Retreat

By Sonja Bolger

Wondering why yoga retreats are so popular? Because of all the amazing benefits that come from going on a retreat of course!

We love yoga retreats here at WeTravel. Actually, we love any type of retreat and wellness trip! If you’ve noticed the signs that it’s time for a yoga retreat but you’re not sure if it’s really for you, or what the benefits of going on retreat are then here’s 25 reasons why you need to make it happen.

1. CONNECT WITH NATURE

Many yoga retreats take place in beautiful natural locations around the world. What better way to get out of the hustle and bustle of city living than to go on a yoga retreat! You’ll be able to connect with nature on a deeper level, immersing yourself in your surroundings and taking advantage of them in a way you might not otherwise do.

2. DISCONNECT FROM TECHNOLOGY

Not every retreat is a digital detox, but you can make it that way if you want to. Going on a retreat vacation is a perfect excuse to disconnect from technology and get back to basics. So many jobs now require us to be on call and connected 24/7. Even if they don’t we can end up spending a large amount of our free time on social media and glued to screens. Be in the moment and away from digital distractions by going on a yoga retreat!

3. EVALUATE YOUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES

If you find yourself stressed by your current circumstance then attending a yoga retreat can help you to take a step back and evaluate where you’re at from a distance. Sometimes it’s difficult to make decisions when we’re too close to the situation. Going on retreat can give you the benefit of distance and help you to reevaluate.

4. A TASTE OF LIVING LIFE WITH A PURPOSE
When you’re on retreat each day has an element of purpose. You’re concentrating on your practice, and relaxing or taking advantage of optional activities in between. Your health and well-being are placed front and center. Each day you can achieve what you set out to do, and have a taste of living your life with an element of purpose.

5. SPEND MORE TIME WITH INSTRUCTORS
One of the best benefits of a yoga retreat is having access to inspirational yoga teachers for more than just a class. You can take advantage of any one-on-one time they offer to help you with your practice, and speak to them throughout the retreat about yoga and wellness in general.

6. STOP OVERTHINKING
If you find it impossible to silence your mind and you’re always thinking of the next thing you need to do then a yoga retreat gives you a great opportunity to stop overthinking it all. Use a yoga retreat to turn off all the noise of your own voice and open yourself to a more positive way of thinking. Meditation is often part of a retreat program, and you can speak to your instructor about helping you to harness your thoughts!

7. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE ENERGY
One of the best benefits of going on a yoga retreat is taking a vacation full of positive energy! On retreat, you’ll surround yourself with positive thoughts and feelings. No need to worry about any vacation stress, just embrace the positives vibes coming your way.

8. FIND HEALING
A yoga retreat can be healing for your mental and physical health. Going on retreat can change your life, and help you to deal with any emotional and mental issues you may be having. It can also be healing for your body if you’ve experienced injury.

9. EMBRACE FEAR
We often have fears about the things we care about the most, but the best thing we can do is to harness that fear for positive energy and remove it from our lives. A Yoga retreat is a safe place to be guided through your fears, and face them head-on.

10. DEEPEN YOGA PRACTICE
If you struggle to find time to practice yoga in your everyday life then the benefit of going on a yoga retreat is being able to practice every day without distraction. Even the most seasoned yoga practitioner can deepen their practice on retreat and aim to reach the next level.

11. AN INTRODUCTION TO WELLNESS TRAVEL
Wellness travel is all about you and your health. A yoga retreat can give you a great introduction into a wellness vacation. In future, you might be able to create your own wellness trip or incorporate an element of health and wellbeing into whatever travel you do.

12. COMMIT TO HEALTHY EATING
The food you eat on retreat is chosen with care for your health and wellbeing. Going on retreat is an opportunity to eat well without having to worry about it yourself, and it’s a wellness habit you can take home with you.

13. DISCOVER A NEW PERSPECTIVE
Attending a yoga retreat can give you a new perspective, whether it’s about your own life or through learning about a new culture. You never know what you can learn from others that can affect your future choices, or make you see your own circumstances in a different light.

14. REALLY RELAX
A reason to go on a yoga retreat is to give yourself an opportunity to truly relax. Planning a vacation can be hard work, and sometimes it’s difficult to disconnect and really restore your angry reserves. On a yoga retreat, you can really escape and have nothing to do but concentrate on the retreat.

15. MEET NEW PEOPLE
Yoga retreats attract like-minded people, and a benefit of attending a retreat is being able to make new connections and friendships with people who will add positivity to your life.

16. TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF
We give so much of ourselves in our daily lives that it can be difficult to really take a moment just for ourselves. While you can meet some amazing people on retreat, you can also use it as an opportunity to be alone. Wellness travel is all about taking that time for yourself, and is a top reason to go on a retreat!

17. TRAVEL WITH PURPOSE
Travel can sometimes seem like a venture in box-ticking, where we’re trying to complete a never-ending bucket list. But why exactly? Going on a yoga retreat gives you a reason to travel with a purpose. Some yoga retreats are about giving back to the community as much as they are a time for personal growth, which is a fantastic added benefit.

18. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PHILOSOPHY OF YOGA
Yoga is more than just poses, and going on retreat can teach you more about the philosophy behind yoga. You’ll be given a chance to connect more deeply with yourself through yoga practice and understand more about this ancient art.

19. IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH
A yoga retreat has the benefit of being a vacation that improves your health. You should go away from a retreat having exercised your body and relaxed your mind, and feeling healthier in both.

20. LEARN TO MEDITATE
The traditional benefit of yoga was instilling the mind, and going on retreat will allow you to focus on this more deeply. Instead of emerging relaxed from a class back into your busy home life you can carry that calmness with you throughout the rest of the day, and the retreat in general. A yoga retreat will give you a space to meditate fully, without any distractions.

21. RETURN REFRESHED
Have you been on a vacation and come home feeling like you need another one? A yoga retreat might have you booking your next vacation as soon as you’re back, but it’ll only be because you’re so relaxed and refreshed that you’ll just want to do it again!

22. YOU DESERVE IT
Treat yourself to an experience you really deserve, by going on a yoga retreat. This is a vacation all about YOU, and with the stresses of daily life, you deserve it.

23. PRACTICE MINDFULNESS
A big reason to go on a yoga retreat is to finally be conscious of the moment you’re in and increase mindfulness. We can often find ourselves living in the future as we plan ahead, and in the past as we feel with what has happened throughout our lives. On a yoga retreat, you can finally just BE.

24. SEE BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS
Let’s face it, yoga retreats usually take place in beautiful places around the world, whether it’s the beaches of Mexico and California, the rainforest of Costa Rica, or the mountains of Montana. A yoga retreat is like getting two for the price of one, with a vacation in a beautiful place combined with an experience that benefits you on a deeper level.

25. HAVE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
Every retreat is different, even if you return to the same place. The other people and your frame of mind at the time will never be the same again. Booking a yoga retreat will always result in a unique experience, and each retreat will be different as you continue to grow within yourself.

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Read the original article here.

NOW that you’ve read ALL 25 benefits of a Yoga retreat, what are you waiting for?!

To learn more about the awesome retreat to Pura Vida Costa Rica that I’ve been planning for all of the Yogis that want to reset, relax, and refocus their energy, click here >>> www.UniqueYogaRetreat.com/CostaRica[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Check out my other article on The 7 Reasons To Consider Yoga Retreats Instead Of Planning A Vacation[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”55px”][vc_column_text]

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Can Meditation Make Us Less Angry?

Do you ever experience a “sudden” outburst of anger or frustration?

Well, that “sudden” outburst isn’t so sudden. It’s actually accumulated over time and been held back until it explodes. Maybe you can’t even pinpoint what it is you’re even mad at.

I get it. I’ve been there, too. Before taking your anger out on someone else – or worse, yourself! – check out how doing meditation daily can help relieve and help you release your anger.

It can sometimes seem like the world is getting angrier. Whether it is Trumpian politics, keyboard warriors or the deluge of bad news we’re presented with on a daily basis, so much of our modern discourse seems to be fueled by animosity.

While anger is sometimes a valid and necessary response to injustice, and a driver of change, the majority of the time it fosters division and hampers our empathy. This raises an important question: are there ways we can lessen this often destructive and limiting emotion?

Anger in the Everyday

It’s in the larger themes of life – from politics to religion – that anger and annoyance are at their most obvious. Anger is deliberately fueled to entrench certain worldviews, stop people from discussing issues from a point of understanding, and obfuscate our common humanity. The people who try to stymie the freedoms of others (whether through terrorism, violence, or more subtle rhetoric and government reform) rely on their own anger at the way things are – and stoking the anger of others – to force their ideas through.

It is anger that allows immigrants to be treated badly, inspires people to picket gay rights marches, and reduces intelligent debate to shouting matches. But it isn’t only here that we see the problems resentment and outrage cause.

In our day-to-day lives and personal relationships, anger can be a significant barrier to happiness and good will. When we become irritable with our partners, children or family, we find it harder to appreciate them as a full human being – with flaws and motivations of their own – and instead accredit them with attributes and intentions that can be quite far from the truth.

When we’re irritable, a thoughtless action can suddenly be misconstrued as a deliberately provocative one. The person in question may be cast in our minds as inherently “lazy” or “annoying” or “selfish,” instead of a good person that we love who happens to have done a lazy, annoying or selfish thing. It throws up a wall which stops us from truly relating to others, and is an impediment to us actually solving the problem or communicating our point of view.

Angry emotions can also feel like something we have little conscious control over. Everyone has experienced a time where they’ve become more incensed than they need to be, snapping or shouting at someone and feeling instantly guilty afterwards – especially if we’ve managed to really hurt their feelings. If this happens too often, our loved ones can even become wary of us, walking on eggshells when really, we’re the one who is being unfair, which is a deeply problematic situation to find ourselves in.

We can find ourselves in the grips of wasted anger over things we can’t control. The deep frustration of being stuck in a long queue, filling out pointless finicky forms, the car in front driving very, very slowly when we need to be somewhere. It can all make us want to scream and cast a cloud over the rest of our day. But ultimately, these feelings get us nowhere, because we can’t change the situation even if we wanted to.

Meditation and a Sense of Calm

Anger and stress are closely related emotions that both complement and feed off each other. We are far more likely to become wound up when we feel under pressure, and much more inclined to let little things go when we feel relaxed. Similar to stress, anger is a physiological response to a perceived threat to you, your loved ones, your property, your self-image, your emotional safety or some part of your identity.

When a cat swipes at another feline intruder in their territory, they are experiencing a similar thing we do when we raise our voice at someone who has just overstepped some sort of personal boundary. Of course the major difference is that we can intellectualize and mull over our anger, even becoming angry at imagined scenarios. But the ancient “flight or fight” mechanism we share with so many other forms of life is essentially the same.

It’s this hair-trigger, lizard-brain response that practices like yoga and meditation can help to regulate. We may be influenced by similar instinctive drivers as other animals, but as humans we have the capacity to think and make steps to change our behavior, and even change the way our mind works.

Brain scans have demonstrated that regular meditation can physically reduce the size of our amygdala, which is the part of our brains which governs our flight or fight response. It also has been shown to calm our autonomic nervous system, the bodily structure through which our stress hormones – such as cortisol and adrenaline – are flooded into the body. It’s through these processes that we feel tense and unable to think clearly, but meditation appears to significantly reduce their hold over us.

Meditation also makes us more aware of our feelings and more empathetic to the feelings of others, building up the emotional bandwidth to deal with the rising tension in any given moment and put a lid on any hostility we feel towards the world. We experience the world from a far less pressured and stressed place, being able to feel anger when it arises without falling into the habitual irritations of an angry person.

With less anger and more understanding in our worldview, it becomes easier to respond appropriately to any annoyances we encounter in life, becoming calmer and (perhaps most importantly) kinder people.

Credit Goes To Daily Cup Of Yoga

I hope that this article has helped you put anger and meditation into perspective. If you are someone who experiences anger or frustration regularly, I really hope that you’ve decided to give this a try.

For great Yoga & Meditation videos, visit my Youtube channel.